Brake



Feb. 23, 1937.

G. NAPOLI-TAN v BRAKE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed MaIOh 22, 1955 BY l f mq ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937. G. NAPOLITAN 2,071,420

BRAKE Filed March 22, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 /9 "5 @L f//l////////// INVENTOR. 6271/5 /l/APQ/TA/v.

MTM-.65. 13% y( ATTORNEYS.

Patented renza, 1931 UNITED STATES? PATENT oFFlfci-a Gene I ApplicationMarch 22,193.5, Seria-l No.` 12,371.

achim." (ci. ias-1s) This invention relates toL brakes, and more particularly to,y internal brakes for automobiles.k

One of Vthe main featuresl of the invention resides in a brake mechanismv by which a more efilcient braking action may be` obtained between the brake shoes and the brake drum -by reason of the equal distribution of force tothe ends of the brake shoes during expanding movement thereof, and which tends to cause. even wear throughout the braking surface of the brake shoes.

Another featureof the invention is the provision of a brake mechanism having a simple .15 and efcient means for eifecting an adjustment ofthe brake shoe expanding mechanism to take up wear when it occurs between the brake shoes and the brake drum. Y v A further object of the invention is to provide a brake-mechanism having the above features in which the parts are associated in a novel manner to facilitate the removal of the brake 'shoes w n worn to enable the relining thereof. With't ese and other objects inview, the invention resides in the certain novel'const'ruction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features oi.' which are hereinafter fully described in the following specication, are Aparticularly pointed out inl the lappended claims, and are illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view partly in section of my improved brake mechanism for operation by I hydraulics. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view `on the line 2-2 ff Figure 1. Figure 3 .is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure A2.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of-Figure 2. f

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view o f one of the wedge members. I Figure 7 is avertical sectional view through a modined form of brake withthe operating parts thereof in side elevation. I n Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure '7. Figure 9 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the brake adjusting mechanism. FigureLlO is av detail perspective view of one of the brake shoe expanding wedges.

Referring to the 'drawings by reference characters wherein like characters yrefer to similar improvements in parts, throughout the several forms of my invention, the numeral I0 designates a conventional brake, drum adaptedto be fixedly attached to the inner side ofV a vehicle wheel while closing the inner open side of the brake drum, is a xed 5 anchor plate II on which the operating parts of the brake mechanism are mounted.f The anchor plate Ilis provided with a central opening I2 for they passage ofv an axle while flxedly secured to the inside of the plate above and below the 10 horizontal axis thereof arehorizontally disposed tracks or guides I3-I3.

lslidably supported by the horizontal guides `I3I3 are brake shoes I4 and I5. The brake shoes I4 and I5 are diametrically opposed and 15 are of different shapes, the brake shoe I4 including an arcuate shaped flange I6 ori-which the brake lining I1 is attached, while extending inwardly from the ange I6 is a substantially U- shaped web I8, the legs 9-I9 being slidably re- 20 ceived in the respective tracks or guides I3I3.

The 'legs Iii- I9 extend horizontally to a position beyond the plane of the opening I2 and adjacent the brake shoe I5'. The free end of the legs Iii- I94 are beveled in reverse direction, the 25 bevel of the upper leg I9 being downwardly and inwardly inclined while the bevel 'on the lower leg .I9 is downwardly and outwardly inclined.

The brake shoe I5 comprises 'an arcuate shaped flange 2|, the outer face voi which has`brake 30 lining material 22 fixedly secured thereon, whereas a web 23 extendsinwardly from the iiange 2| and is provided with reversely inclined surfaces 24--24 whichare disposed opposite the surfaces 20-20 of the legs I9. The inclination 35 of the surfaces 24-24 are opposite to that of the adjacent inclined surfaces 20-20 to provide a substantially Vinverted V- haped space betweex the upper ends of the webs of the brake shoes and to provide a substantially V-shaped spacey 40 between the lower end of the brake shoes. The extreme `ends ofthe web/23 are also slidably received in the tracks I3 wherebythe brake shoes may slid'e toward and awayy from each otheer for expanding movement in o4 engagement 45 withthebrake drum or to a re, racted position free of the drum. f f In Figures l to l6 incluslve,1 employ hydraulic means for expanding the brake shoes into braking engagement with the drum, and which means 5| includes a pair of keystone shaped wedges 25-26, each of which has its inclined sides provided with channels 26 for receiving the inclined .portions of the webs I8 and 23, whereas a. threaded bore 21 extends vertically or lengthwise through 5g the wedges for threadedly receiving the threaded ends of stems 28. The inner. end of each stem 28 bears against a piston 29 arranged within a cylinder 30, the piston 29 being normally in aretracted position and urged thereto by asprlng 3I interposed between the pistons 29 and respectively connected thereto. The ends of the cylinder 29 are closed by rubber caps 32 through which the stems 28 pass and which stems are air tightly connected'to the caps as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. Entering the cylinder 3l) through the anchor plate I I is a iiuid supply line 32, the pressure from which is adapted to expand the pistons 29 in opposite directions for the purpose of imparting an expanding action to the brake shoes through' the wedges 25. It will be understood that the cyiinder.30 is ilxedly secured to the anchor plate II as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings wherein screws 33 are employedn as fastening elements.

, For the purpose of facilitating adjustment of the wedges 25, each stem 28 is provided with a knurled manipulating flange 34 whereby turning of the ilange will eiIect a sliding movement to the/wedge to adjust the normal position of the same. By the manipulation of the iiange 34 Ito impart turning movement to a stem 28, any wear between the brake shoes and the drum may be taken up.

For the purpose of normally holding the brake shoes I4 and I5 in a retracted position, springs 35 have`on of their ends connected to the respective legs I9-I9 and their other ends fastened adjacent therends of the web 23.

For the purpose of holding the stems 28 in an adjusted position spring catches 36 are tlxed to the wedges 25 and are formed with inwardly extending detents or teeth 31 i'or engagement with the milled surface or teeth provided on the flangesv 34. If desired, the periphery of the flange 34 maybe provided with recesses or sockets 31 radially arranged to accommodate the insertion of an instrument to eiect turning. movement of the stems 28.

From the foregoingdescription, it will be seen that the brake shoes I4 and I5 are normally in a retracted position as shown in Figure 2, but upon the admission of uid pressure into the cylinder 35, the pistons 29 will be forced outwardly in' opposite directions and will in turn move the wedges 25 in opposite directions and which wedging ,movement expands the` brake beyond the anchor plate and terminates in a reduced threaded stud 44. Fixed to the shaft 42 by a pin 45 is a clutch collar 46 having nut faces 46' and ratchet teeth, while iitting upon the shaft andbnormally engaging the clutch collar 46 is a coacting clutch collar 41 having ratchet teeth for releasable engagement with the ratchet teeth of the collar 46, and from which an actuating arm or lever 48 extends, the said arm adapted to be operatively connected with the foot brake actuating mechanism of an automobile. Threaded upon the threaded stud 44 is a nut 49 and interposed between the inner side of the nut and the outer side of the clutch collar 41 is a. spring 50, which tends to normally hold the ratchet teeth of the clutch collar 46 and clutch element 41- in clutching engagement. Also threaded to the -stud 44 is a stop nut 5I having a hood or socket portion 52 enclosing the nut 49 and spring and bearing against the clutch element 41. A stop pin 53' extends outwardly from the plate II into the path of movement of the lever 48 for limiting `the movement of the lever in a non-braking direction.

In the operation of the form of my invention shown in Figures 7 to 10, it will be seenthat upon actuation of the lever 48, turning movement will be imparted to the shaft 42 through the clutching elements 46 and 41, whereby the cam 4| will be turned to spread the wedges 25 in opposite directions, and which wedging action produces the same result as that hereinbefore described wherein hydraulic means was employed for the operation of the expanding wedges.

shoes I4 and I5 into .braking contact with the drum III. Release of the fluid pressure will enable vthe springs `35 to move the brake shoes to retracted position as well as the returnoi the other parts to normal position.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 'I- to 10 inclusive, substantially the sameI construction is` present 'as that hereinbefore .de-

scribed, with the exception that .the shoes are.

med to their braking position by mechanical means rather than by hydraulic pressure, and

the Awedges 25 is provided with an upwardly ex-A -tending platey or shank 38 provided with an elongated slot 38 through which aiuide pin 40 'extends`fromthe anchor plate' I I. The top end of the pme u terminates miscela; .me under `side oi.' the upper wedge 25 and interposed therebetween is a wedge expandingcam 4I, the same being-fixed to the inner end of a shaftg! turnably mounted 'in a bearing 43 carried by the anchor plate II. 'Ihe shatt`42 extends outwardly WhenA it is desired to adjust the wedges 25 to compensate for we r between the brake shoes and the drum, the nu v5I may be unscrewed from the threaded stud 44 whereupon the clutch element 41 may be disengaged from the clutch collar 46 by applying a wrench to the nut portion 46 thereof and imparting a turning movement thereto to cause the engaging ratchet teeth between the element 41 and collar 46 to ride over each other, causing a turning movement to be imparted to they shaft 42 to change the nrmal radial position of the actuating cam 4I without disturbing'the normal position of the arm or lever '48.l The spring 50 serves to keep the clutch `element 41 in, clutching engagement with the clutch collar 46 while 'effecting an adjustment oi the cam 4I.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted I2 in the anchor plate to facilitatethe passage 'oi' an axle without interference to the brake mechanism. Also, the brake mechanism is mounted as a unit upon the anchor plate, and that the parts are readily accessible upon the removal oi' the wheel of a vehicle on which the brake dnim is mounted.

While I have illustrated two forms of my in, venti'on, it will beunderstood that other changes and modiiications may be resorted to as come within the'scope oi.' the appended claims ii' so desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as.n'ew and desire to secure by Letters Pateniof'thev United States. is:-

terminating in spaced relation with`the web of u ,the other inclined annes provided oii the web` of the other .shoe opposite the inclined ends spring 'means acting upon said shoes to hold the samein a Vnormally retracted position, land 'operable means for simultaneously' moving. said wedges in opposed direction to cause Vthe shoes.v .to beV moved to an expanded position into braking engagement with said drums against the action Aof said spring means .2. In a brake', av rotatable drum, a iixed brake anchorplate'closing one'side oi said drum, apair of opposed brake shoes `slidably mounted I lipon s'aid anchor plate, the webs o fsaid brake I shoes terminatingin spaced relation with respect to each other," a rotatable actuating ca'm member journaled in said plate, means `for facilitating radialpdjustment of said cam member relative to its,A axis, and wedge means between said actuating cam member vand the webs of 'said shoes and operable upon turning intobraking engagement with said drum.

3. In, a brake,` a drum, a Ypair of opposed jslidably mounted shoes, one of said shoes having a substantially U-shaped web, vtheends of the legs oiV the U-shaped web being inwardly inclinedand terminating inV spaced relation with the web ofthe other shoe, inclined surfaces provided on the web of the other shoe opposite the inclined ends of the U-shaped web and inclined inf. a direction opposite thereto to provide yeshaped spaces'therebetween,'s1ide wedges dis-'- osed within'the V-sha eds aces for -wedging.- 1 p J p p the other shoe, inclined surfaces provided on the engagement withA the' inclined portions of the webs of said`shoefs, springmeans acting upon said shs tQ,-hold the same in aA normally retracted position, and operable means for simultaneously moving said wedges in opposite directions to causethe shoesyto be movedto an expanded position into braking engagement with said drum against the action. of. said spring means, and means for effecting an adjustment of said slide wedges relative to said operating'means 'to compensate ior"wearv between said shoes and said drum. I 4. In a brake, a rotatable drum, a kfixed brake anchor plate closing one side of said drum 4and having a central opening for the passage l,of an axle, a pair of diametrically opposed vbrake shoes movement of said'actuating cam 'member to expand said shoes shoes, spring' means acting upon said shoes to slida'bly, supported upon said anchor plate for movement toward'and away from each other, the

web ofone of said brake shoes being U-shaped and terminatingin spaced relation with respect Vto the web of the other brake shoe, the U-shaped web adapted to straddle an' axle passed through said opening, reverselyinclined surfaces provided l,on adjacent opposed ends of the webs of said brake shoes, shoe expanding means intermediate the spaced webs and operatively engaged with the reversely inclined surfaces for sliding saidshoes toan expandedIv position into engagement with said drum, and spring means acting to move said shoes to a retracted position.

. v5.-'Ina brake,a drum, a pair of opposed slidends of', the U-shaped we b `and inclinedin a direction opposite thereto to provide V-shaped yspaces-therebetween, slide wedges disposed with,-

in they-shaped spaces for wedging vengagement withfthe inclined portions of the web of said s substantially U-shaped webfthe ends of the legs of the U-shaped webbeinginwardlyinclined and terminating in spaced-relationfwith the web of web of the other shoe opposite the inclined ends of the U-shaped web `and inclined in a direction ,opposite thereto\to-"provide V-shaped spaces` therebetween, slide wedges dispos'ed Within the V-shaped spaces for wedging engagement with the inclined Aportions of the webs of said shoes, spring means acting upon said shoes to hold-Uthe samej in a normally retracted position, and cam actuated means for simultaneously moving said wedges in opposed directions to cause 'the shoes to be moved to an expanded position into brakf ing engagement with said drum against vthe action oi" said spring means.

,GENE NAPOLITAN. 

